Mopping apparatus



Jan. 5, 1954 E. A. TWERDAHL MOPPING APPARATUS SfSheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 20, 1946 Jan. 5, 1954 E. A. TWERDAHL 2,664,584

MOPPING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 20, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

Jan. 5, 1954 E. A. TVVVERDAHL 2,664,584

MOPPING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 20, 1946 a Sheets-Shee-t s IN V EN TOR.

wag/x2 Q Zzf/emfzii /V LMMJ MWJ Patented Jan. 5, 1954 "UNITED STATES; ram" OFFICE MOPPING APPARATUS Edward A. Twerdahl, Evanston, Ill. Application September 20, 1946, Serial No. 698,275

The present invention relates to apparatus for mopping floors and the like and more particularly to an improved mop pail structure and mop construction which may be used in combination to reduce the drudgery ordinarily attendant with this type of work.

Conventional mopping apparatus consists of a string mop and a water pail for containing the mopping liquid,,with no facilities being provided for wringing out the mop. Thismeans that in using the apparatus the mop must be wrung out by hand. Various crank operated wringing devices usually adapted for attachment to the mop pail, have been developed and sold commercially to eliminate the hand wringing operation. However, all such devices as well as hand wringing require that the mop user stoop over and either crank the wringing device or twist or squeeze the mop during each mop wringing operation. Hence, conventional methods of mop wringing are laborious and time consuming. Further, due to the round construction and small bottom surfaces of most mop pails, there is considerable likelihood of overturning the pail during mop wringing, particularly when a wringing device of the character referred to is attached to the pail. Moreover, in the use of conventional mopping apparatus, the dirty liquid picked up from the floor is ordinarily squeezed out into the liquid in the pail, with the result that the cleaning liquid quickly becomes dirty and must be frequently changed. This further increases the labor involved in mopping a given floor area.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide improved, simple and low cost mopping apparatus of light easily portable construction which completely obviates the abovedescribed operational disadvantages.

"It is another object of the invention to provide improved mopping apparatus which may be easily operated without requiring any stooping or muscular exertion on the part of the mop user during mop wring out operations and without the mop users hands coming in contact with the cleaning liquid, thus permitting the use of strong detergents or cleaning solvents in the cleaning liquid.

According to a still further-object of the in 3 Claims; ((115-260) 2 vention, an improved mop pail structure is pro vided which requires only a small amount of storage and shipping space and yet is very difficult to tip over in use. The invention both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be under.- stood by reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: I

Fig. 1 is an elevational perspective view of .improved mopping apparatus characterized by the features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l but illustrating a certain components of the apparatus in changed positions;

Fig. 3 is an elevated perspective view of the pail structure forming a part of the apparatus; Fig. 4 is a side sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the pail structure shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken 7 along the lines 66 in Fig. 4.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 thereof, the present improved mopping apparatus is there illustrated as comprising a pail structure it and a mop structure indicated generally at H. In brief, the pail structure 10 comprises an open top liquid container H of generally rectangular configuration having side walls |2a and 12b and end walls I20 and 12d extending upwardly and flaring outwardly from a bottom wall lZe. The'purpose of this particular configuration is twofold, i. e., to permit a number of the containers to be nested for shipment and storage and to provide a large bottom area which minimizes the likelihood of the container being overturned in'us'e'. If desiredpthe container I2 may be formed of a single piece of thin gauge metal and provided with a reinforcing bead around the open' upper edge thereof. Alternatively it may be comprised of a number of sheet metal panels assembled together to form the desired configuration and seam welded along the meeting edges thereof to render the space within the panels liquidtight.

Along the open top edge of the container l2, the pail structure is provided with combination carrying and mop squeezing means comprising a rectangularly shaped bail I3, the base rod l3d of which ispivotally supported upon the con tainer l2 approximately midway betweenthe end panels I20 and I M by-means of pivot lugs l4 and I5 riveted or otherwise suitably mounted upon the container side walls i211 and I221. The other transversely extending section [3a of the bail i3 is utilized pivotally to support a wooden grip spool it having a U-shaped bail threaded therethrough and provided with legs pivotally attached to the bail section l3a.

The mop squeezing means carried by the bail I3 is illustrated as comprising a heavy wire screen I! covering the area defined by the four sections v 13a, I31), lite and 13d of the bail and fixedly secured to all of these bail sections as by soldering, welding or the like. Regardless of the manner in which the mop squeezing structure is formed, this structure should have openings therethrough of sufiicient size to permit free liquid drainage into the container 12 inthe manner more fully pointed out below.

With the above described construction of the combination carrying and mop squeezing means, the bail ltmay be raised to an upright position relative to the container :2, i. Q; to the position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, for the purpose of carrying this container from place to place. In normal use, however, the bail occupies a low ered position in engagement with the upper edge of the container l2, such that the screen I? covers approximately one-half of the open top area of the container and the other half of this area is left open to admit the head of the mop H. In this regard it will be understood that the nail I3 is shaped and sized to match approximately one-half the upper edge :contour of the container l2 so that the described partial coverage of the open top of the container by the screen it is ob- H tained when the bail occupies its lowered position.

For the purpose of providing an open top liquid receiving well within the container l2 to receive :"soiledor dirtyliquid squeezed from the mopping element of the mop H, a second container indicated generally at it is provided. As best shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings, this second container is also of light gauge sheet metal construc-- tion, is detachable from the container iii and is size'd'an'd shaped to fit snugly within the container IZadjacent one end thereof. More specifically, the second contain-er it iscomprised of end walls 180 and 13d and a pair of side walls lda'an'd [8b which meet at the bottom to form a chamber or well of triangular cross section. Preferably, these four walls are so sized and shaped that when the container is inserted into position within the container 12, the wall l-tb fits snugly against the outer container end wall 12d and the walls 180 and 18d fit snugly against'the outer container side walls lib and 1:25;, respectively.

.The purpose of slanting the well l to of the second container downwardly and toward the end wall 42d of the outer container to form the described well of triangular cross section is to prevent the center of gravity of the pail structure as --a whole from being shifted too far to the left as viewed in Fig. 4 of the drawings when the large outer container i2 is filled with cleaning liquid and the-second container i8 is empty. A further important feature of the described construction resides in the fact that cleaning liquid in the main reservoir of the large container t2 presses against the wall lBa to force the wall lBb against the end wall 12d of the container i2 and 'th-nsprevent the endof the container 1 8 adjacent the wall 2d from being forced upward. In-order to prevent the other end of the container 13 from "floating upward in the liquid filled container 42,

the end walls we and i8d of the container 18 are respectively provided with clips 19d and We along the upper edges thereof which are adapted yieldingly to embrace the beaded upper edges of the outer container side walls [2?) and i2a, respectively, in the manner best shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. For the purpose of facilitating removal of the second container [8 from the main container I2, the end walls 180 and ltd are also provided with lifting flanges [9a and 18b which project laterally outward from the side walls 122) and 12a of the main container in the manner best shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 6 of the drawings.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the present improved mop is there illustrated as comprising a combination support and squeezing plate 2 of rectangular configuration having substantially the same size andshape as the mop squeezing screen IT. This plate is adapted to be mounted upon the threaded end. of a mop handle22 by means of a threaded socket element rivet connected to the plate 2% at the'upper sidethereof. .At its underside, the plate 25 is adapted to support a mopping element 23 which preferably is of the synthetic or natural sponge type and may be of any reasonable thickness such, for example, as two inches. in order to secure the mop element to the plate 29, this element is stitched, adhesively bonded or otherwise secured to a flexible textile fabric backing element having free end extensions, which are adapted to be wrapped around the front and rear edges of the plate 2%], the backing element being laced over the plate iii to secure the mopping element thereto. Fortune-purpose of forcing the plate 29 toward the mop squeezing'screen I! to expunge cleaning liquid from the mopping element 23, a pair of raised steps 29 and 30 are mounted upon the plate 2:: along the top side thereof. More specifically, these steps are of identical U-shape configuration and each isprovided with laterally extending leg ends rivet connected to the plate 29. Preferably, the two steps are mounted to extend transversely of the long side of the plate 20 and are spaced equidistant fromthe respective ends thereof on opposite sides ofthe socket 2|.

Briefly to consider the manner of using the described apparatus, it will be understood that in'the usual fioor cleaning operation, the second container I8 is left in place within the main container i2 to receive soiled or dirty water expunged from the mop element 23. The clean- .ing solution, usually water intermixed with soap or another detergent, is mixed within the main chamber of the container l2 in the usual manner. After the cleaning solution is thusmixed at a sink or the like, the ball [3 may be used to carry the pail structure :10 from place to place as the mopping operation proceeds. However, in any given location the bail structure remains in its lowered position against the upper edge of the container I2 to cover the open top of the second container [8. In order to soak the mopping element 23 with the cleaning solution, it is only necessary to insert this .element position the mopping element 23 on the mop squeezing screen I! in the manner illustrated in Fig 2 of the drawings. With the mopping element thus positioned, the user of the mop may place one foot on the steps 29 and and step down on these two steps, thereby to force the plate 20 toward the screen llQcompr'ess the sponge, and thus expunge the soiled or dirty cleaning solution from the mopping element 23. As the liquid flows out of this element, it drains through the openings in the screen into the well defined by the second container I89 In this regard, it may be pointed out that when tightly compressed, mopping elements of the synthetic or natural sponge type have the characteristic of retaining only a small fraction of the liquid which may be contained therein when fully expanded. Hence, while some contamination of the cleaning solution in the main chamber of the container I 2 does occur, it is negligible as compared with that which occurs when the dirty solution picked up from the floor is squeezed back into the cleaning solution. After the well within the second container I8 becomes filled, this container may easily be detached from the main container I2 and dumped. Thus the mopping operation may be continued without frequent changes of the cleaning solution.

In certain cases it may be desired to use the mop l I strictly as a dust mop rather than as a cleaning mop. Use of the second container 18 is not essential in such cases, since only a very small amount of dirt will ordinarily be picked up during the mopping operation. Accordingly, this container may be detached from the main container I2 and the latter container filled to an appropriate level with clean water which is used in wetting the mopping element 23 to enhance the dust pick-up efiectiveness thereof. In this type of use as in the floor scrubbing use explained above, the plate 20 is used in conjunction with the squeezing screen 11 of the pail structure 10 to squeeze the mopping element dry at desired intervals. Here, however, the water contained within the element 23 is expunged directly into the cleaning fluid, but without causing intolerable contamination of the fluid for the reason just pointed out.

From the foregoing explanation, it will be understood that the present improved mopping apparatus represents a distinct advance in the art in that it serves completely to obviate two of the foremost disadvantages of conventional mopping equipment. Thus it affords a completely acceptable solution to the problem of avoiding frequent and undesired contamination of the cleaning solution with theidirty liquid picked up by the mopping element asthe mopping operation proceeds. Secondly, itcomplete- -1y eliminates the necessity for the mop user to stoop over, either for the purpose of carrying out the mopping operation or for the purpose of squeezing out the mopping element when this element becomes soaked with dirty liquid. Moreover, the structure is simple 'in the extreme and all components thereof are capable of being manufactured and assembled through the use of low cost, high speed production methods. Further, the apparatus is of very rugged construction such that, with the exception of the mopping element per se, it will withstand hard usage for an extended period of time. As regards the mopping element per se, which is the only replaceable element of the apparatus, the described novel arrangement for detachably connecting this element to the plate '20 permits of easy and rapid replacement of this element as required.

While one embodiment of the invention has been described, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein which are within the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A mop pail structure comprising an opentop liquid container of substantially rectangu lar shape, a U-shaped carrying bail shaped and sized to match approximately either one-half of the upper edge contour of said container, means pivotally mounting said bail on said container for pivotal movement relative to the open top of said container between a raised carrying position and a pair of diametrically opposed lower positions overlying one or the other half of the open top container, and mop squeezing means mounted upon and extending between the legs of said bail to cover a portion of the open top of said container when said bail is in one of its lower positions wherein said mop squeezing means is in a mop squeezing position, said mop squeezing means having openings therethrough through which liquid squeezed from a mop may drain into said container.

2. A mop pail structure comprising an opentop liquid container of substantially rectangular shape, a U-shaped carrying bail shaped and sized to match approximately one-half the upper edge contour of said container, means pivotally mounting said bail on said container for pivotal movement relative to the open top of said container, between a raised carrying position and a pair of lower positions overlying one or the other of the upper open halves of the container, means defining an open-top liquid receiving well within said chamber adjacent one end wall thereof, and mop squeezing means mounted upon and extending between the legs of said bail to at least partially cover the open top of said well when said bail is in one of its lower and effective mop squeezing positions, said mop squeezing means having openings therethrough through which liquid squeezed from a mop may drain into said well.

3. A mop pail structure comprising an opentop liquid container of substantially rectangular shape, a U-shaped carrying bail shaped and sized to match approximately one-half the upper edge contour of said container, means pivotally mounting said bail on said container for pivotal movement relative to the open top of said container between a raised carrying position and a pair of lower positions overlying one or the other half of the open-top container, a second open-top container disposed within said firstnamed container adjacent one end; wall of said first-named container to define a liquid receiving well, said second container having a side wall slanting toward said one endwall of said first-named container, means for detachably securing said second container to said firstnamed container, and mop squeezing means mounted upon and extending between the legs of said bail to at least partially cover the open top of said second container when said bail is in one of its lower and effective mop squeezing positions, said mop squeezing means having openings therethrough through which liquid squeezed from a mop may drain into said well.

EDWARD A. TWERDAHL.

(References on following page) Number Name Date Rock -,Feb. 9, 1886 Higgins Feb. 16, 1897 'Rosenberry May 4, 1915 Zodac Dec. .14, .1915 Vaughn Apr. 19, 1938 Abbott Feb. 21, 1939 Rader Mar. 7, 1939 Murphy May 13, 1941 Number Number 10 12,082 120,460

Name Date Vaughn Sept. 9, 1941 Rogers -1 July 6, 1943 Schaffhauser ,May 1, 1945 Trindl Dec. 1-1, 1945 Travis Apr. '2, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain July 16,1891 Great Britain Now-23, 1917 

